Finger stall



A ril 13, 1948. w. J. FORBES 2,439,653

FINGER STALL Filed March 21, 1947 In vent!) r A Do me];

Patented Apr. 13, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FINGER STALL William 3. Forbes, Joplin, Mo Application March 21, 1947,'Serial No. "736,226

This invention relates to an improved construction of finger stall and more particularly to a ventilated and expansible finger stall which will yieldably grip a finger inserted therein to prevent accidental removal thereof and to enable the stall to be worn with comfort.

Another object of the invention is to provide an expansible finger stall adapted for application to fingers of different sizes and including relatively resilient and relatively non-resilient portions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the finger stall;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal substantially sectional view thereof, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figures 3 and 4 are cross sectional views of the finger stall, taken substantially along planes as indicated by the lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of Figure 2.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the improved finger stall in its entirety is designated generally 5 and, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, comprises an elongated body which is tapered substantially uniformly from its enlarged end to adjacent its restricted end.

The finger stall 5 is preferably formed of rubber and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal ribs 6 which extend from the enlarged open end 1 thereof to adjacent the restricted end 8 of the finger stall. The strips or ribs 6 are formed of relatively rigid, non-resilient hard rubber and are connected by transversely disposed, circumferentially extending portions 9 formed of relatively soft, pliable and resilient rubber. The longitudinally aligned resilient strips 9 combine to form, with the ribs 6, the rows of longitudinally spaced openings Ill.

The restricted end or tip 8 of the fingerstall 5 is formed by an annular member with which the converging ends of the ribs 6 are joined as by molding. Said annular member 8, beyond the ends of the ribs 6 which are joined therewith, is provided with an annular restricted portion H which is slightly arcuate in cross section and which defines a restricted opening I2 at the forward or tip end of the finger stall 5.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the transverse resilient portions 9 will per- 6Claims. (01. 294-45) mit the finger stall 5 to be expanded in a direction transversely or diametrically thereof for accommodating fingers of different diameters and for causing the finger stall 5 to be yieldably gripped around a finger disposed therein, likewise in a direction transversely or diametrically of the stall. The hard, non-elastic longitudinal ribs 6 will prevent the finger stall from being stretched to any appreciable extent in a direction lengthwise thereof and will maintain the finger stall in substantially an extended position and prevent flexing thereof. The tip 8 is likewise formed a rela tively soft resilent material, such as rubber, for gripping about the tip of a finger, not shown, contained within the finger stall 5. The openings Ill formed by the longitudinallyspaced transverse portions 9 will afford ventilation to the finger, contained within the finger stall, and the portions 9 disposed at the enlarged end of the finger stall will cause said enlarged end portion to effectively grip about the finger, at the inner end of the finger stall and so as to prevent casual removal thereof.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A finger stall of the character described including longitudinally extending, relatively rigid non-elastic portions disposed in circumferentially spaced relationship relatively to one another, and transversely disposed longitudinally spaced portions connecting said longitudinal portions and formed of relatively elastic material.

2. A finger stall of the character described including longitudinally extending, relatively rigid non-elastic portions disposed in circumferentially spaced relationship relatively to one another, and transversely disposed longitudinally spaced portions connecting said longitudinal portions and formed of relatively elastic material, said longitudinal and transverse portions combining to form longitudinal rows of spaced openings therebetween for ventilating the interior of the finger stall.

3. A finger stall of the character described including longitudinally extending, relatively rigid non-elastic portions disposed in circumferentially spaced relationship relatively to one another, and transversely disposed longitudinally spaced portions connecting said longitudinal portions and formed of relatively elastic material, said finger stall being tapered from end to end thereof and of and being provided at its restricted end with an annular tip portion formed of a relatively elastic material and to which corresponding ends of said longitudinal portions are secured,- said tip having an annularly restricted outer end disposed beyond the secured ends of said longitudinal portions and defining a restricted opening in the tip end of the finger stall.

5. A finger stall of the character described, including longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced rib portions formed of relatively hard, non-elastic rubber, connecting portions disposed between and connecting the longitudinal edges of said ribs and formed of relatively soft, elastic rubber, and a tip portion formed of a relatively soft, elastic rubber connecting corresponding ends of said longitudinal ribs and having an annularly restricted outer end defining a restricted opening at the tip end of the'finger stall.

6. A finger stall as in claim 5, said finger stall being tapered toward said tip end, and the portion thereof connecting the longitudinal edges of said first mentioned, hardened rib portions being longitudinally spaced to combine with said rib portions to define ventilating openings.

WILLIAM J. FORBES. 

